The “Ship of Hope” is about to deliver its long-awaited cargo. The vessel will be carrying 280 wheelchairs to be distributed to disabled people of southeast Turkey. This noble venture is the final culmination of the dreams of two women: an American, Jeni Grossman of Phoenix, Arizona, and her Turkish-American counter-part, Meltem Birkegren of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The Ship of Hope is the successful undertaking of these two ladies. Their tireless work is evidence of their compassion for people who do not have access to the most basic necessities of life. With matching donations from Kenneth Behring’s Wheelchair Foundation headquartered in California, and partnering with Beyoglu Rotary Club in Istanbul, the women raised the $21,000 required to buy and ship the 280 wheelchairs to Turkey. (Wheelchair Foundation keeps the cost of wheelchairs down by purchasing them in lots of 280).
The recipients of these life-enhancing vehicles are anxiously waiting for the arrival of their wheelchairs. The Ship of Hope will reach its destination during the month of June, 2004. Not only the disabled, but their parents, children, relatives, and friends are anxiously awaiting the chance to take their loved ones for a stroll around the neighborhood or to the store or to visit friends. Some of the wheelchairs will help youngsters attend school for the first time.
Grossman’s Son Was An Inspiration
Jeni Grossman has been enamored with the country of Turkey ever since her husband Gary taught at Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara, Turkey on a Fulbright scholarship. Gary and Jeni have a disabled son, Zach, who is about to graduate from Northern Arizona University. While Gary was teaching in Turkey and Zach was attending college back home, Jeni criss-crossed Turkey seeing the sights and writing her third novel which is set in Southeast Turkey. She fell in love with the enchanting land of Turkey. But despite its charms and fascinating history, Jeni also witnessed first-hand the many disabled people who were in need of wheelchairs. She says, “I knew that a simple chair with wheels had made all the difference in my son’s life and in my life as his mother. A wheelchair equals freedom. Anyone who cannot walk deserves to have one.” She made a simple promise to every disabled person she met: you will soon have a wheelchair of your own. At the time, Jeni had no idea how she would provide the chairs. At first, her Turkish translator refused to give her messages of hope to the disabled people because Jeni had no idea how she would make good on her promises. So she made another promise to the translator: somehow she would find a way.
“Turkish people are so proud. They would rather carry their disabled relatives and children on their backs rather than beg for a hand-out. When the youngsters got too big to be carried by their parents, they crawled on dirt floors. Turkish communities were often unaware of the needs of the disabled because the disabled were kept indoors. So, because they were so proud, someone had to do the “begging” for them.” She started by contacting Turkish-American Associations and many of her American friends to tell them about the need for wheelchairs in southeast Turkey.
Just as her son was able to do, Jeni wanted to see the disabled of southeast Turkey sit upright in brand new wheelchairs of their very own. She thought they had every right to be included in their communities, and eventually be counted among the productive people of Turkey.
Another Angel of Mercy
A well-known and equally hard-working angel lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Her name is Meltem Birkegren. Meltem was born in Turkey and even though she has been living and working in the USA for a long time, her heart never left her birthplace. Meltem, a real dynamo, has always been involved in all kinds of interesting projects. She is the proud organizer and president of a heavy duty machinery parts company known as “Danex International, Inc”. She is also the vice-president of Turkish Forum, an online inter-global grassroots organization with a phenomenal reader-membership approaching 200,000 world-wide. Her other favorite cause has been her Chairmanship for Turkey at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Sister Cities International Organization (GFLLSCI). The Turkish province of Mugla on the Aegean, is one of the 13 sister cities of Ft Lauderdale. In 2002, Meltem conducted a campaign to raise money and then distribute 240 wheelchairs in Mugla, Turkey. This was accomplished with the help of the Wheelchair Foundation of California, Turkish community particularly in Florida, members of GFLLSCI, and Istanbul Rotary Club.
Jeni and Meltem Get Together
Jeni Grossman, who heard about the successful campaign for the people of Mugla, got in touch with Meltem Birkegren in Florida by e-mail. This contact was the beginning of a lasting friendship between the two women. In fact, their association went beyond the limits of their favorite subject of charity work. Both of them love Turkey with a passion and do all they can to encourage tourism and interest in Turkey. While Meltem was visiting Turkey on other business, the women had dinner together and discussed project ideas. Then they kept in touch, often e-mailing each other several times a day. Together, Meltem and Jeni accomplished a miraculous labor of love. They teamed up with two social workers from the GAP Region (the Turkish acronym for “Southeastern Anatolian Project“) and they all worked through the GAP women’s organizations known as CATOMs which are “Multi-Purpose Community Centers”. The women located every disabled person in eighteen small and large cities of southeast Turkey. Once the funds were raised, the Wheelchair Foundation arranged to transport the 280 wheelchairs by ship to Turkey. Once the cargo reaches Turkey, customs clearance, transportation to the final destination of the wheelchairs will be handled by the Beyoglu Rotary Club. Ceremonies will be held by local governments for the distribution of the wheelchairs to the pre-assigned recipients.
True Friends Find Others Willing to Help
Jeni Grossman and Meltem Birkegren started with that simple promise to the disabled people of southeast Turkey. They worked hard and took as their motto: “God helps those who help themselves.” Jeni and Meltem now believe the disabled people themselves will soon find out that: “God helps those who help themselves”. The wheelchairs will help the disabled go to school and get jobs and take care of their families. They can help themselves—with the help of God.
Open Hearts and Lines of Communication
The lines of communication between Jeni and Meltem worked like a well-oiled clock. The ladies consecrated a portion of their own lives to accomplish great things on behalf of others. They knocked on doors, begged for funds, used web sites, mailed letters and e-mails, distributed brochures, held fundraisers and conducted information events—and then depended on others to respond generously.
Jeni and Meltem attest to the fact that their requests for help were rarely refused. The hearts of others sung in tune with their own and a great project was accomplished. The women wish to thank people all over America who helped them send these wheelchairs to the people of Turkey on the Ship of Hope.
Representatives from six ethnically diverse groups who were affected by the Balkan Wars as recent as 1999, came together for a “day of healing” to receive 500 wheelchairs donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Wheelchair Foundation. The donation was made to the Association of Paraplegics and Handicapped Children of Kosovo (HANDIKOS) in Prishtina, the capitol of Kosovo, on January 29, 2004. 
Menikewe Borong heard her name broadcast over the local radio station as one of 250 people who would receive a new wheelchair because of a donation made by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Wheelchair Foundation. She arrived early at the Pohnpei State Hospital and waited patiently as dozens of wheelchairs were being distributed to those who, for many years, could not afford a wheelchair on their own. With a big smile on her face, she told the Church representative, Bill Davis, that now she can get out of the house and do things that she couldn’t before. She especially looks forward to going shopping and attending her Church meetings at a nearby Protestant church.